Verbiscer is an associate research professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Virginia and she worked with data from the Cassini Mission exploration of Saturn from 2007 until it ended in September last year. She is currently working on the science team for the New Horizons mission, which is exploring the Pluto system and Kuiper Belt beyond.

In her address to the whole school, Verbiscer told the story of how the New Horizons mission has revealed details about the surface of Pluto and its moons. The space craft, having orbited Pluto is now continuing towards the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto and is due to pass the Kuiper Belt Object named MU69 on 1 January 2019, to reveal more about this planetary body and its surface.

In the senior science classes, Verbiscer told the story of the Cassini mission and how she became involved when water plumes from geysers in fissures on Saturn’s moon Enceladus were observed. Dr Verbiscer visited junior science classes to answer questions.

Verbiscer was accompanied by Sam Chevalier (OA 2008, Merriman). Chevalier met Verbiscer when they travelled to Patagonia last year to document the planetary event called a stellar occulation, when MU69 passed in front of a distant star, blocking its light from Earth. Chevalier wanted the boys and girls to hear Verbiscer’s stories and discover that science could provide adventure and opportunity beyond the laboratory.

Chevalier’s initiative, a company called ReWild, tells stories through film to promote awareness and empathy.

The schools expressed gratitude to Chevalier for initiating the visit and introducing Verbiscer to them, and to Verbiscer for her time and enthusiasm in addressing so many groups.